Reinforced plastic button



Sept 2, 1941- L. R. CARLI-:Y l 2,254,418

n REINFORCED PLASTIC BUTTON l Filed Nov. l2, 1940 Figi A; "wd/1.@ 1,2I mi fw, 13 "f5/m' X 16 mum*r vw? Patented Sept. 2, 1941 UNITED STATESk PATENT OFFICE REINFORCED PLASTIC BUTTON Leonard R.. Carle'y, Watertown, Conn., assignor to The Patent Button Company, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation o! Connecticut y Application November 12, 1940, Serial No. 365,372

(Cl. 24h-95) h 3 Claims.

'that is well reinforced by the metalA shell, which shell will not only protect the body of the button but will well protect the hub of the button against fracture during the button-attaching operation.l .l

A further object of the invention is to lprovide a metal button back or shell,'in which may be inserted a pre-molded plastic slug or iiller, which is to be held firmly in position by the subsequent rimming of the button back shell.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a reinforced plastic button wherein insignia or a design is to be molded* on the face of the plastic insert, and if the letters are sunken or intaglio, the same may' be sprayed wit-h lacquer of a contrasting color, so that the said letters or depressions will `show up well on the faceI of the button.

Still another object of the invention is to pro` vide a reinforced plastic button wherein the plastic insert will have molded on its face the desired insignia or design. If the plastic is to be moldedwithin the shell, the mold will have the desired insignia'cut therein or the button may be subjected to a later mold to form the insignia on the face of the button. Furthermore, if the plastic insert is to be rst pre-molded and placed in the shell, the pre-molded plastic likewise, during its molding operation, will have the insignia or design impressed in its face.

Still another object of the invention V'is to prol ith la bore to hold and grip the prong of a fastening element when driven into said bore.

Still another object of the invention is to pro- *Vide a plastic button wherein a vise or anchorl vide a metal button back or shell which is to be filled with a lplastic material, such as Bakelite,

and wherein, rather than rolling or rimming the shell after the plastic has been' molded, the edge of the shell is to be pre-rolled or pre-rimmed andthus save later rimming or rolling.

With these and other objects in view, 'the invention consists in certain new and novel arrangements and combination of' parts, as will.

be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

Referring now'to the drawing showing a preferred .embodiment and severalmodications, i

Fig. 1 is an enlarged top plan view of a button of the preferredvform;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the button as attached to a garment;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view o f a plastic slug or l iiller;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a similar vertical sectional View showing a vise embedded in the 'Bakelite slug and showing raised insignia;

Fig. 7 is a similar sectional view illustrating a modifiedlform in which th'e Bakelites molded into the metal shell back rather than being premolded;

Fig.v 8 is a. view showing various shaped tops for the buttons; such as fiat, dome, convex. and concave; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail of a still further slight modification where the peripheral edge of y35 the shell is shown as pre-rolled or pre-rimmed.

Referring now to the drawing and for the moment to Figs.' 2 and 3, there will be seen a metal back I wi h its hub 2, its body portion 3, and the rim 4. tom is perforated, as at 5, to receive a fastening element, while fitted withi/n the shell may be seen the plastic ller 6, which may be of Bakelite or any other similar plastic material. 4

` In Fig. 5, this pre-molded slug or filler is shown before being placed in the shell, and it will be noticed that it likewise has a hub 1, in which there is formed the central bore B, while in the face may be pressed the desired insignia 9. This insignia will be sprayed, so that the same will be filled with pigmented enamel, after which the srface will be wiped off, or other methods may be used for filling the letters, *so that they will orm a pleasing contrast with the Bakelite surace.

This pre-moldedfslug or filler, as shown in Fig.

I e hub of the shell on its bot-f 5,15 then pmcedgwlmm the shell, me: which the assure nange 4 of the shell is Veither rimmed orzcurled.

as may be seen in Fig. 2. This makes a well reinforcedand inexpensive plastic button. which is also relatively light in weight.

In Fig. 3, Il have shown thebutton as attached ,to a garment I0. There will be'noticed a fas-V tener II with its prong I2,`which is preferably fluted, as at I3. Y The prong is'p'ointed, as at Il, to readily pierce theV cloth and wedge itself up into the bore I. The diameter of the prong is several thousandths greater` thanthe diameter of the bore 8, .but it is to be remembered that` these buttons are fastened in a button-attaching machine and relatively great pressure is exerted It will be understood thatalthough I have shown in Fig. 'I the plastichub as beingprovided with a straight 4bore toreceive a fastenensimilarto the fastener II shown in Pig. 3,' this plastic filler might have molded therein-a vise similar to the vise IIshown in Fig. 8, and in thatinstance, the prong of the fastener would beiof the conventional typeand deformed within the vise, as

on the button head to force it down on the prong of the tack and thus drive the prong tightly withn K in the bore.

Referring to a slight modification, there is shown in Fig. 6 a button consisting ofthe plastic slug or illler I fitted within its shell I i', Vand vise Il, which vise is of a conventional type, so

that when the prong of a conventional tack fastener (not shown) is driven in the visepthe prong will be deflected and deformed and thus outer peripheral flange'of the shell rimmed or rolled to holdthe Bakelite filler tightly within its shell. In this instance, Irhaveshown raised in-V sigma I'Lbut it will `be understood that it mightI be either raised or sunken in` the same manner that it might be in the preferred form. y

In Fig. 7, there is shown a further ymodiiication, and in this instance, rather than pre-molding the Bakelite filler, it is to be deposited and molded rlght in the shell and be provided with the central bre I8. Also, the hub of the shell may be slightly ringed or depressed circumferentially, as at I9, for holding the filler in place and will be provided with a central perforation I 8';

After the molding operation, the flange may' `there is also shown molded Yinthe plastic filler a `be flat, as shown in Fig. 8, orvit may be domed or concave, and in all instances, the letters will be either sunken, raised, or flush with the surface, as desired.

It will also be understood that although I have shownthe button as being round in top plan. it might be of any other. desired shape. v

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided av reinforced plastic button, which consists primarily of a shell and Bakelite filler which filler may either be pre-molded or molded right within the shell. 'I'he plastic surface will also be provided with insignia'.` which will preferablybe y of a contrastingicolor, so that the surface of the A button will' have a.p1easing appearance. The

.tor

button may have a vise molded right in the filler special form of fastener to'be driven in the bore. Many. slight changes might be Vmade in the construction hereinbefore `set forth without in r any waydeparting fromthe spirit and scope of be pressed down or rolled, similar to that shwn in Figs. 2 and 3. Y

p Also in Fig. 9 there is shown a. further slight modiilcation wherein the shell 22 has the edgeV .Y or flange V23pm-rimmedv or pre-rolled, so that when the plastic ,material 2l is molded within the shell, it lls up the rolled or rimmed edge and thus does awaywith the necessity of rimming or rolling the shell after the Bakelitevhas hardened withinthe shell. This wouldentirely eliminate any tendency whatever of the Bakelite from being fractured during a rimming operation.

If the plastic filler is not pre-molded, insignia' may be impressed in the surface 2| with a single die, after the button is molded, by using a hotdie and -a few seconds dwell in contact with the poses, and after the letters are once formed, they may be pigmented in the same manner as shown in the preferred form.

the invention. Y

Having thusA described my invention,A what` I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patlentis: Y I v 1. A reinforced plastic button comprising'a metal shell having a hub, a body portion, and an outer peripheral. flange, a plastic material filling said shell, and the said peripheral flange rimmed tightly about the said plastic filler and the hub metal back body shell provided with aV periph- Y eral flange vand vopen at its top, e. 'hard plastic filler within said shell `and completely filling the same, metal means embedded in the plastic for receiving and deforming a fastening element. the nange of the Vshell being rimmed about the peripheral edge of the plastic filler, the top surface of the illler forming the face of the-button and adapted to have insignia stamped therein.

3. A reinforced plastic button including a metal-encasing shell having a peripheral flange and open atits top, a `hardpre-molded plastic filler tightly fitted within said shell and completely iilling the same, the top surface of the plastic forming the ,face of the button and adaptedto have insignia stamped thereon, the said plastic ller having a bore in its under portion and the saidbore terminating short of the top surface of the plastic filler and adapted to receive a fastening element during an attaching operation, and the bottom of the shell provided with an opening registering with said bore to permit the passage of said fastening element into the aforementioned bore. l Y LEONARD R. CARLEY. 

